King's Faculty Profile - Mahdi Tourage
Name
Mahdi Tourage
Department
Philosphy and Religious Studies Program
King's University College courses taught
- Gender and Islam
- Religious Tradition of Islam
- The Qur'an
- Islam Today
- Islam and Cinema
- Love, Wine and Ecstasy: The Poetry of Rumi
- World Religions (Islam section)
Areas of Specialization
Islamic Religious Thought and Mysticism (Sufism), Classical Persian Literature, Gender and Sexuality
What research projects are you currently undertaking?
I am currently working on two research projects including:
- My research involves examining the mixture of context and content of religious texts, which in turn shape believers' religious experiences. In an article I just completed entitled “Performing Belief and Reviving Islam: The Function of White Prominent Male Converts in Muslim Revival Conventions” (under Review by The Journal of Islamic Studies), I examined the concept of belief as it relates to the conversion of westerners (Euro-American subjects) to Islam. This paper argues that for many (born-)Muslims the Western converts function as the signifiers of belief. As a subject outwardly embodying the effects of the belief, a Western white convert functions like a “fetish.” Like the sexual arousal of a fetishist that cannot take place except in the presence of a psychosexual fetish, for (some) Muslims the deepest indications of belief are invoked by the converts’ typical hyper-performativity of their faith. Muslims’ belief about God, prophets and angels remains objectively insufficient until it is fetishistically invoked by the Western convert. Conspicuous Western converts in effect believe for the rest of the Muslims.
- A book, tentatively entitled: Muslim Men and the “F” Word. This is a work in progress expected to be completed in summer 2013. It is about the relevance of gender studies and particularly feminism (the equivalent of the “F” word in some circles) to understanding and reconstructing Muslim masculinities. It is erroneously believed that feminist discourse is only relevant to the concerns of females and possibly gay and lesbian issues—it is no surprise that (almost) all scholarly treatments of Islamic feminism are authored by women and homosexual men. This book examines projects of reconstructing Muslim masculinities and male discourse through textual, doctrinal, and institutional sources of Islam in ways that are not about control and domination. This is not to employ a women’s discourse to remain its master, but to acknowledge yet undermine the normative false universalities of hegemonic masculine discourse.
What is it that you enjoy about working at King’s?
A wonderful supportive caring and friendly group of people, academics and administration staff as well the caretakers and others, make King's a most enjoyable place to work in. To this I must add King's stated and practiced commitment to social justice and especially interfaith issues. As a Muslim teaching Islam I truly appreciate the immense support I have experienced in building courses and organizing events relevant to concerns of Muslim communities in Canada and especially in London. A distinguishing mark of King's is that we offer a series of relevant courses in Islam and issues relevant to Muslims, and most importantly King's is the only place you can do a minor in Islamic Studies!
What are your interests outside of King’s?
I do have a passion for social justice, which is reflected in my work, but on a personal level i am an advocate of vegetarian diet for compassionate (as well as environmental) reasons. I have also been riding motorcycles for many years - I would say bikes are a passion of mine. Another passion of mine is martial arts, I have been teaching and learning Tae Kwon Do for the past 25 years, I am currently a 5th Dan Black Belt Master, teaching and training regularly.
Other
I would like to emphasize the importance of offering a minor in Islamic Studies at Philosophy and Religious Studies Dept., this is a unique program that should greatly benefit the students in the wider Western campus and more to the point, the wider Muslim communities of London.
Click here to learn more about the Philosophy and Religious Studies department.
